Method of making metallic printing-plates.



4J. o. DE WOLF. NnTHonoF MAKING MBTALLIO PRINTING PLATES,

5i/venziontZO 70m ,Ze 0% J. o. DE WOLF. 4METHOUOI MAKING METALLICPRINTING PLATES.

`APPLIUA'LION FILED JULYVlB, 1906.

Joa/n/ J. o. DE WOLF. METHOD l015' MAKING METALLIC .TRINTING PLATES.

n APPLICATION VFILED JULY 18, 1906.

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Patented Dec. 1; 190s.

ness is much more extensive.

JOHN O. DE WOLF,` CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

- Specification ofLetters Batent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

y, `Applicationled. July 18, 1906. y Serial No. 326,713.

To all whom it may. concern:

e it known that I, JOHN O. DE WOLF, a citizenl of the United States,residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Methods of MakingMetallic Printing-Plates, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likenumerals on the drawings representing like parts.

The object of my invention is primarily to save time in making printingplates for the modern newspaper oce, although it will be understood thatits range of useful- Besides `this primary object, I accomplishaccuracy, neatness, economy and various other'advantages, which willappear in the course of the more detailed description.

In modern newspaper work byv far the most important itemis to save'timyein getting out the printed page, and accordingly every energy andfacility of the entire plant, regardless of expense are commonly bent tothe oneobject of speed or economy of time; and as at present practicedvthe most aggravating delay usually occurs rin the stereotyping room. Itis customary now first to set the type with a linotypeV machine, thenmake a papier mache matrix therefromA and when the latter has hardened,bend it to the proper curvature within a mold or casting box, clamp itin place, closingthe4 casting box, and then pour the molten metal. Afterthe latter has cooled sufciently to permit of opening the mold, thecasting box is opened, the matrix is unlocked and is then stripped off.The stereotyped platey is next taken out, or, in some cases, both theplate and matrix are removed together and-afterwards separated. Then thestereotype plate isfnished, this process usually consisting of removingthe surplus metal at the edgesand ends, properly finishing the same sothat they will lit on the cylinderA of the printing press, and finallytheback of the plate is shaved to a true form. The exact order of theseoperations varies somewhat, but the above sets forth with practicalcorrectness the operations and amount of work commonly employed. It willbe seen that time is wasted at each'operation in waiting for thecompletion of one part ofthe process before commencing the next part andthat also much time is lost in `waiting for `the metal to cool andinshavingv the backto fit the cylinder, etc. Accordingly it is my objectto save all this wasted time.

rlfhe present application relates to my new method, only sufficientapparatus being shown for properly presenting the method, the' apparatusand article herein set forth beingexpressly reserved for separateapplications. In the first place, I aim to use less metal and thusobtain in less time a properly solidified plate. `In the next place I,maintain a. molten or plastic condition of the metal at a givenlocality only, and progressively shift said locality or region over thematrix until the entire printing surface has been formed. Preferablythis forming region or heated locality and application of the heatedmetal in such a condition as to be properly` impressed by the matrixprogresses `evenly `and continuously'from one edge of the matrix to theother, and I also prefer to employ molten metal for the purpose. In thethird place I gain time by performing, `previous to the setting of thetype or forming the printing face, as much as possible of the necessarypreparation of the back and edges of the plate, it being understood thatdelay prior to the setting of `the type is unimportant, the need ofhaste occurring after the news has beenset in type. Fourthly, I not onlyperform the operations progressively, as above mentioned, but I performsimultaneously some or all of the operations. v

In the most complete `embodiment of my invention I bring togetherprogressively the moldable metal z'. e. the stereotype metal renderedimpressionable by heat, and the matrix inthe presence of a chillingmedium, so that the metal, either molten or semimolten, obtains its formor type impression from the matrix along a progressive line, or narrowregion, and is at once caused to set. vIn other words, the molding orimpressing of the printing plate and cooling or setting of the metalboth take place along a narrow region or line progressively from oneside of the plate to the other. In this connection I prefer to employ asthin a layer of metal as possible in order that it may receiveV shape,cool, etc., with the greatest rapidity and accuracy. This enables me toeliminate the danger of shrinking and inaccuracy which has heretoforebeen due to the employment of a large body of metal; and because of thisfeature of my inventionfI have .succeeded in eliminating entirely thenecessity of shaving the back of the plate to fit the press. To this endI employ a back which has been previously prepared, having its back andedges accurately shaped beforehand, and on this previously prepared backI form a thin face of proper metal such as stereotype metal, which isprogressively molded and shaped or impressed against and by the matrixand simultaneously secured to the back, set and shaped.

I piefer to accomplish the above results by means of rotary apparatus sothat all the steps of the process can proceed together. To this end, inthe most complete carryingout of my invention, I feed the matrix and theprepared back simultaneously forward and pour the molten metal betweenthem, so that the three come together simultaneously and are immediatelybrought under the influence of a water acket or other cooling meanswhich instantly brings the metal .to a plastic or iinpi'essioiiablecondition, and,

having progressed a sufficient distance to cool sufficiently, the matrixis stripped, preferably automatically, from the united back and castface, said stripping, cooling, pouring and moldingl all andprogressively, so that when the pouring of the metal is just beingfinished, the stripping of the matrix has already been largelyaccomplished.

My method differs from what is known in the art as stereotype platecasting, in that I do not cast the plate, but, instead thereof, Ideliver to a matrix progressively a line or narrow area ofiinpressioiiable metal, and then instantly and permanently impress itwith the desired type form or shape, whereupon it is ready, so far asits permanent type surface is concerned, to leave the matrix. Theimpressing is not done in freeflowing metal, as it would be impossibleto leave any impress in a very fluid substance, but is done on theplastic, doughy, or very sluggishly molten metal, 2'.. c., the metalmust be sufficiently soft to forced into the back and impressed at thefront by the matrix, and sufficiently fixed or non-inolteii to beself-supporting and retain its shaped condition. In making a casting,the met-al flows transversely past the adjacent portion of the molduntil it has filled up the mold, and then it undergoes a complicatedcooling and shrinking process in the mold which finally results in aduly shrunken cast plate. My method differs radically from this castingmethod, as I do not flow any metal whatever transversely past theshaping surface of the matrix, but first bring the metal to aniinpressionable or partially cooled or set condition, and then becapable of being bring the metal and matrix perpendicularly togetherwith a compressing movement which impresses the metal surface directlyand permanently with its ultimate shape.

going on simultaneously I This impressing of the metal takes placealong` an exceedingly narrow area which I have termed a line, and thenimmediately the next line or narrow area is similarly impressed, andthen the next, and the next` and so on progressively until the entireplate has been formed by a continuous succession of these definiteimpressing movements of the matrix perpendicularly into the softened,but not liquid, metal.

My invention embodies various other important features, which will bemore properly apprehended in connection with a description of theapparatus.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a sufficient portion of myal'iparatns to enable me to explain the method clearly, it being`understood that a large mass of de,- tails are omitted to preventconfusion thereof with the description of the method.

In the drawings, Figure l is a central. longitudinal section of thesimplest form ol apparatus for carrying out my invention; Fig. 2 is asimilar sectional view, considerably enlarged, showing the leading`steps of the method in progress: Fig. i5 is a sectional detail similarto Fig. l, excepting that it shows the position of the parts as they aredelivering the completed plate and ready to begin operations in makingthe next plate: Fig. 4 is a view in end elevatiiui of the parts shown inFig. 3; 5 and (3 are longitudinal sectional views of the water-cooledportions of the apparatus, Fig. 5 being a substantially vertical sectionand Fig. a nearly horizontal or oblique section for showing the variouscooling passages, and also showing the shape of the edges` etc., of thecompound printing plate as it is being formed.

I will briefly describe the apparatus in order that the method may bemore clearly understood. Mounted on a suitable base or frame l is arotary cylinder 2 ionrnaled at 8 in. heavy uprights '-t and operated byany i convenient means as by a worm 5 and worin wheel (l driven by anelectric motor or other source of power 7 shown as controlled b v arheostat lever 8, Fig. 5, adapted to be automatically tripped by a lug 9and latch I() or any other usual or preferred tripping mechanism forautomatically stopping the machine. At the lower right-hand corner orside of the apparatus, see Fig. l, is a wateri cooled concave surface l1for cooperating with the cylinder 2. and at the left thereof extendingbetween the uprights lis a stripper blade or other stripping` means l2just above a transfer table 13 pivoted at l-'lv to the base l andnornnilly held horizontal by a. latch l5 operated by a handle lt, andadapted to be tilted into the dotted position Fig. l, for the purpose ofdelivering the stripped matrix to a conveyer 1T so that it will be inposition for the operator to retl t) place it in the Ymachine for makinga separate printingplate. The matrix 18 is placed 'in illustrated Amypreferred method 'of `carrying out` my invention, in which I use metalwhich is actually molten, and Vaccordingly I deliver the metal 21 from anozzle 22 of a pipe 23 through which theVV metal is pumped or otherwisedelivered from a suitable source 24, herein shown as being delivered bygravity, a valve`25 controlling the inlet. 4Above the pipe 23 Ipreferably provide heating means, herein shown as gas jets 26 forkeeping the metal in a highly fluid condition at the verypoint ofdelivery.

The cylinder 2 is provided with a waterjacket or suitable `cooling means27 overv that portion which is to receive the molten metal, and at theforward end of said portion I provide a transverseblock 2S which alsoperforms the office of a dam or stop for the metal, as will presently beexplained,- over which the forward edge 29 of the matrix is adapted tobe bent `and clamped automatically by any suitable mechanism, such forinstance as is commonly "employed in printing presses, being hereinshown as consisting of clamps 30 on arod 31, provided externally with agear 32 operated by a toothed sector or rack 83 pivoted at 34 to thecylinder and held under downward tendency by a' spring 85 Vas well as byits own gravity, said sector rack having a shouldered engaging surface36 for traveling on a cam ring 37 which has an incline 38 at one portionthereof and a 'sharp drop or shoulder 39 at another portion thereof,seeFig. 4. Thus when the cylinder is vjust reaching the position shown inFig. or rather is just passing forward from the-position shown in Fig.3, the shoulder 36 drops from the shouleieif'r and thereby gives aninstant rotary movement to the clamps 30,V so that the clamping ends ofthe latter move in the path shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and operateto clamp the forward edge 29 of the matrix tightly over the block28 asshown in-Figs. 1 and 2, holding the sametightly until said part 66reaches the part 38 of the cam ring,`

means, pipes 42 being indicated for the stationary water-jacketand axialpipes 43 being indicated yfor the cylinder jacket. The receiving surfaceof the cylinder is cut away `at 44 to receive the back 45 on which thetype face is secured and impressed, said cutaway portion 44 coperatingwith the recess 40 inthe concave shaper or receiving surface.Cooperating with the recess 44 of the cylinder is a stripping mechanism,which may be of: any convenient kind, being herein shown as consistingof stripper heads 46 carried by rods 47` reciprocated by bell cranks 48operated by a shaft 49 located in the cylinder to aline at properintervals with a plunger 50 pivoted at 51 to a hand lever 52 pivotallymounted at53 on the frame of the machine.`l`

Let it be supposed that the machine isin the positionshown in Fig. 3.The operator takes a `back 45 which has been previously prepared so asto be of the exact shape, thickness and curvature desired, it beingremembered that this previous preparation ymay have been performed atany time conthe matrix and cylinder together, the clamping dogs 30 areautomatically swung from the position Fig. 3 to the clamping positionFigs. l and 4, thereby clamping the matrix firmly in position so thatthereafter the matrix and back move `forward together. The moment thatthe clamping of the matrix takes place the molten facing metal 21 ispermitted to iiow. `This applies a thin face of the stereotype metal onthe front of the backing, which is immediately cooled and receivesproper impress from the matrix at. `the point where the back, matrix and`metal are forced together by the rotating cylinder. The moment that theimpression is.; made the advance metal and adjacent parts are at oncecooled by coming in contact with the water-jacketed former surface ormold 11 and the opposite water jacketed surface 'of thev cylinder. Thisprocess continues progressively, the thin metal surface being maintainedsoftened or sluggishly molten at the initial contacting point of theback, metal and matrix, where the metal is simultaneously molded and setin permanent form at said point. This is progressively accomplished overthe entire surface. I prefer to move simultaneously the matrix, metaland back, although I wish it understood that my invention includes anymovement or progress of the heated impressionableregion, the coolingregion and the forming region with relation to the matrix, the ideabeing, in its broader features, to cause the forming of the Stereotypeprogressively over the matrix, or in other words, to render the metallocally impressionable by heat and progressively shift said localcondition over the required area of the matrix, at the same timefollowing said locally heated condition with a localized coolingcondition until the entire plate has been impressed with the matrix andcooled. Meanwhile as the plate is being thus impressed and formed alongone narrow area or line thereof, the matrix and same plate are beingelsewhere separated from each other. As shown, where all the parts movetogether, the cylinder continues rotating forward until the cam surface3G strikes the surface 3S, which thereupon releases the clamping dogs 30from the forward end of the matrix and the latter springs out away fromthe block 28 in position to be caught by the stripper blade l2, whichoperates automatically to remove the matrix progressively from theprinting plate as the latter is being impressed and formed. Theoperation is continuous, without any halting at any point. When thecylinder has arrived at approximately the position shown in F ig. 3, itis automatically stopped by the tripping device 9 or any other suitablestopping mechanism, the operator pushes in the lever 52, which raisesthe stripper heads 46 and lifts the completed plate, to be carried tothe printing press.

As the plate has been formed with an impressed surface which is thin andwhose cooling` begins while it is still under prese sure, there is noresulting` uneveimess due to shrinkage or shifting in position of themetal, and hence no subsequent shaving of the plate, is required inorder to bring it to the proper thickness with relation to the backing,both having been formed together as they have moved along in unison. Iwish to emphasize the fact just mentioned that the impressing andcooling of the metal take place while the metal and matrix are beingpressed toward each other in the act of accomplishing the impressing ofthe printing surface into the impressionable metal. This is one of theradically new and essential features of my invention which distinguishesitfrom what is commonly known in the art as casting. No trimming orother treatment is required, as the edges have been properly molded atthe same time as the face. The back has previously been prepared withperfect accuracy and the metal is united thereto by any suitable means,as by entering holes 54 or dove-tail grooves, scorings, or any othermechanical bond, on the back 45, or the back may be of such consistencyas to be slightly fused or amalgamated with the covering surface byreason of the heat of the molten met-al. I wish it understood also thatmy inventiou includes the union of a facing metal which is not actuallymelted, butA is merely softened at the local region where it is beingimpressed. I regard it also as broadly novel to form the composite platewith a previously prepared backing, thereby permitting all thenecessarily slow back-forming part of the process to be performed.previously, when time is not vital. The need for haste all occurs afterthe matrix is ready, so that whatever work can be done to vards thefilial finished plate previous to the impressing operation is of decidedadvantage in point of time. By my method, as soon as the matrix isready, several of the finished printing plates can be prepared quicklywithout any halting or waiting, directly therefrom, By using a thin faceof metal upon a prepared back, not only is there less molten metal tohandle and to harden and no back-forming to be done, but extremerapidity is possible in progressively uniting the face and back at 011eregion while the matrix and plate are being separated at another regionfrom the face already formed. As the molding or impressing is doneprogressively the metal does not have to flow as heretofore a longdistance in a thin mold, and this arrangement makes it feasible to casta thin and perfect face upon the prepared back. This method ofprogressive impressing and simultaneous cooling prevents the coolingstrains and distortion of the finished plate which take place when alarge area is cast and then the same large area` is cooled at all pointsat once. Also by my method I obtain exceedingly sharp detinition, whichis due no doubt to the compressing of the metal while cooling, or inother words to the perpendicular impressing of the matrix into the metalwhen the latter is in an impressionable condition, as distinguished frombeing in a liquid or highly fluid, and hence, non-impressionablecondition. The back may be of the same metal as the face, in which caseboth can be melted together again to be used over again and hence thereis no waste, and in this case the weight of the plate is identical witha plate made in the old way; or a different metal maybe used for theback, as for instance, aluminum, in which case a very light plateresults, an advantage of great convenience in handling when it is bornein mind that. the workman is required to handle several tons of theseplates per day.

lvhile I have herein shown and described not only the method, but alsothe apparatus and the composite plate, I wish it understood that thepresent application is restricted to the method, and that the otherfeatures shown and described are reserved for other patents.

I have already mentioned various moditications, and it will beunderstood that I am not limited to the details hereinv set forth, as myinvention may be carried out in a wide' variety of arrangements, steps,and sub-processes.

Having described my invention, what y1 claim as new and desire to secureby'Letters Patent is,

1. Themethod of making printing plates, consisting of juxtaposing thematrix and the plate material rendered locally impressionable byheat,vand progressively impressing the platematerial andshifting. saidlocal condition over the required area until the entire plate isimpressed as desired. Y

2. The method of making printing plates, consisting of juxtaposing thematrix and the plate material rendered locally iinpressionable by heat,progressively impressing the plate material and shifting said localcondition over the required area until the entire' plate is impressed asdesired, and progressively cooling the` said plate as it is impressed. f

3. The method of making printing plates, consisting of juxtaposing thematrix and the plate material rendered locally impressionable by heat,progressively shifting said local condition over the required area untilthe entire plate is impressed as desired, and meanwhile progressivelystripping the matrix from the plate as it is cooled.

4. The methodl of making printing plates,

consisting of impressing the plate with the` matrix at one portionthereof, and siiniiltaneouslyv stripping the matrix from the plate atanother `portion thereof.

5. The method of making printing plates, consisting of forming andimpressing the plate with the matrix at one portion thereof, andsimultaneously stripping the matrix from the plate at another portionthereof.

6. The method of making printing plates, consisting ofprogressivelyforming and impressing the plate, and progressively stripping the matrixtherefrom, all as a continuons operation.

7. The method of making printing plates, consisting of previouslyforming a back, then applying thereto an impressionable layer andsimultaneously impressing the surface thereof with the matrix.

8. The method of making printing plates, consisting of previouslyforming a back, then applying thereto an impressionable layer,simultaneously impressing the surface thereof with the matrix, and whilethe latter operation is still in progress beginning to strip olf thematrix. A

9. The methodof making printing plates, consisting of previouslyforminga back, then applying thereto by heat animpressionable layer andsimultaneously impressing the surface thereof with the matrix. p

l0. The method of making printing plates, consisting of previouslyforming aV back, then applying thereto :by heat an impressionable layersimultaneously impressing the surface `thereof with the matrix, andprogressively cooling the impressed surface.

11. The method of making printing plates,

consisting of relatively moving a matrix and a layer of type material inan impressionable condition, in progressive forming proximity, withsufficient pressure toward each other to leave a permanent impression ofthe matrix in the metal while the latter is in a plastic condition, andsimultaneously accompanying. the said` forming step by a progressivecooling operation.

12. The `method of making printing plates, consisting of moving a matrixforward, depositing` thereon progressively a layer of type material inan impressionable condition as the matrix moves, impressing the matrixinto the type metal and cooling the deposited layer while the matrix isstill moving.

13. `The method of making printing plates, consisting of movingairmatrix forward, de-A positing thereon progressively a layer of typematerial in an impressionable condition as the matrix moves, applyingcooling means, and, while still moving, stripping olf the matrix.

14. The method of making printing plates, consisting of relativelymoving a matrix and metal in an impressionable condition in suchrelation to each other as to impress the surface of the metal with thematrix, applying cooling means to the impressed metal after it isimpressed, and while it is still moving, stripping the matrix from thecooled plate thus formed.

15.` The method of making printing plates, consisting of applying amatrix progressively over the surface of metal reduced to animpressionable condition by heat, immediately cooling said metal afterits surface is impressed, and compressing said metal and matrix togetherwhile cooling.

16. The method of making printing plates,

` consisting of progressively forming a printing face on a backpreviously prepared including impressing said face with a matrix andsimultaneously removing the matrix from the completed portion of theface without Waiting for the complete forming of the entire printingface of the plate.

17. The method of making printing plates, consisting of moving apreviously prepared back between a cylinder and concave mold,

`and simultaneously feeding in with the moving back a matrix and asurface metal in an impressionable condition between the matrix and backin position to be compressed between the cylinder and mold.

18. The method of making printing plates, consisting of moving apreviously prepared back between a cylinder and concave mold, andsimultaneously feeding in with the moving back a matrix and a surfacemetal in an impressionable condition between the matrix and back inposition to be compressed between the cylinder and mold, and applyingmeans to said mold for hastening the cooling of the metal.

19. The method of making printing plates, consisting of moving apreviously prepared back between a cylinder and concave mold.simultaneously feeding in with the moving back a matrixa surface metalin an impressionable condition between the matrix and back in positionto be compressed between the cylinder and mold, applying means to saidmold for hastening the cooling of the metal, maintaining constantforward movement, and when the forward portion of the plate is properlycooled7 progressively removing` the matrix therefrom.

20. The method of making printing plates, consisting of bringingtogether type metal in an impressionable condition and a matrixperpendicular to each other without relative transverse movement.

2l. The .method of making printing plates, consisting of bringingtogether a haelt, type surface metal in an impressionable comlition, anda matrix by a compressing movement perpendicular to the plane of saidthree parts at the impressing or forming region thereof.

The method of making printing plates. consisting of bringing togethertype metal in an impressionable condition and a matrix with a pressingmovement perpemlienlar to each other sutlicient to impress the matrixinto the metal without relative transverse movement, and immediatelycooling the impressed metal.

In testimony whereof, Vl have signed my name to this specification. inthe presence ol two snbseribing witnesses.

JOHN (Y). DE 'Ollli.

Yitnesses Grao. H. Maxwmm, TAL J. PIKE.

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